New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc has welcomed five new Regional Forum members for the upcoming three-year term.

Karen Pickford will represent Northland, Monty Spencer is Auckland’s representative, and Whetu Rolleston is a newly-appointed member for the Tauranga region, joining reappointed member Mike Smith.

For Te Puke, Helen Allan and Tammy Hill are new members to join reappointed counterparts Ross Bawden and Simon Cook.

Other members re-elected for their respective regions are Mark Gardiner for Waikato, Andrew Dawson for Coromandel and Waihi, Sean Carnachan and Craig Pooley for Katikati, Matthew Moore for Whakatane, Chris Anstis for Opotiki, Doug Brown for Poverty Bay, Richard Pentreath for Hawke’s Bay/Lower North Island, and Paul Thomas for the South Island.

NZKGI chairman Doug Brown congratulates the newly and reappointed Regional Forum Members.

“I’m looking forward to seeing them engage with the growers from their regions and bring their constituents opinions to the forum,” says Doug.

“I’d also like to extend a message of thanks to those forum members who have retired by rotation. The contribution that regional representatives play is often a thankless task but is crucial in contributing to the voice of New Zealand’s kiwifruit growers.”

The forum comprises of 27 elected members – 17 are regional representatives, nine are supply entity representatives and one is a representative of the Maori Kiwifruit Growers Forum.

Forum meetings are held in Mount Maunganui about eight times annually, with members making important decisions on behalf of growers in their region, which impact upon the kiwifruit industry.